Sliding door lock



Jan. 14, 1964 W. J. DUVALL SLIDING DOOR LOCK- Filed Jan. 23, 1961 a- INVEN TOR. M47252 J DUI ALL QQ-M 3.

Arroeuzy United States 3,117,811 SLIDING 3013B LOCK Walter J. Duvall, R0. Box 866, Chula Vista, Calif. Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,165 6 Ciaims. (ill. 292113) This invention relates to a sliding door lock.

it is an object of my invention to provide a sliding door lock which is an improvement over existing devices because it is simpler in its construction, assembly and operation and is accordingly more economical to manufacture and more efiicient in use. My lock requires only a small number of parts which are quickly and easily assembled in such a manner that there is little likelihood of the lock mechanism ever going out of order.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sliding door lock in which a hook-like male catch in moving from unlocked to locked position is pivoted successively outwardly and then downwardly to provide positive engagernent with the female strike. In moving from locked position to unlocked position, the catch is pivoted successively upwardly and then inwardly.

it is another object of my invention to provide such a lock in which the catch will automatically retract if it is struck by a person or object. If the door is accidentally closed with the catch in protruding position, the catch will merely retract without any damage to the door, strike or lock mechanism.

it is accordingly among the objects of my invention to provide a sliding door lock having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure set forth above and described in detail hereinafter. My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale showing my sliding door lock in use on a door;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lock;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the same, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, showing the lock in unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the same, taken on line 66 of FIG. 4;

PEG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 4, showing the lock in full lines in locked position and showing the catch in phantom lines just before it moves downwardly to fully locked position.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate my invention comprises a frame 10 having a back wall 59, top and bottom walls 51 and 52 respectively, a closed side wall 53 on one side and a partial side wall 54 on the other side.

The front wall 55 of the frame 19 is substantially wider than the frame itself. The front wall 55 is provided with a small oblong rectangular opening 11 at the top thereof and a larger oblong rectangular opening 12 therebeneath. A cover plate 13 extends across the entire front wall 55 except for the openings 11 and 12. A pair of side plates 14 and 15 are mounted on opposite sides of the frame It) and have portions which adjustably overlap the sides of the front wall 55'.

A conventional edge pull 16 is pivotally mounted on a pin 17 which extends transversely across the front por- 3,ll7,8ll

Patented Jan. 14, 1954 ice tion of the frame 10 between the side walls 53 and 54. The edge pull 16 is pivotally mounted within the opening 12 and in its normal position substantially closes off the opening 12.

My sliding door lock is customarily mounted in a notch cut in the edge of a sliding door. A strike opening 18 is provided in the door jamb and is surrounded by a strike plate 19. The upper part of the strike opening 18 is aligned with the small opening 11 in the frame 19.

Mounted for rotatable movement within the frame 16 is a central control member 22, which includes an elongated fiat portion 23 which fits against the inside of the closed side wall 53 of the frame 10. The control member 22 has a circular portion 24 which protrudes from one side of the flat portion 23. The circular portion 24 rotatably fits within a complementary circular opening 25 in the side wall 53 of the frame 1! The upper end of the control member 22 carries a circular pin 26 which projects radially from the flat portion 23 in a direction away from the wall 53. The lower end of the control member 22 carries a longer pin 27, which is of smaller diameter than the pin 26 and which extends in the same direction. The midportion of the control member 22 carries a projection 28 which has a circular outer contour and a substantially square opening 29 extending therethrough. A reinforcing rib 20 extends from the projection 28 to the pin 27.

A catch 3%) is provided at its inner end with a circular opening 31 which extends only partially therethrough and which is adapted to fit over the pin 26 of the control member 22 to pivotally connect the catch thereto. A right angular hook 32 is carried by the outer end of the catch 30. Extending downwardly from the inner end of the catch 39 is a flange 33. The outer portion of the catch 39 is smaller in thickness than the width of the opening 11 in the frame 19 and the hook 32 is so dimensioned and positioned that it is capable of moving through the opening 11. The inner portion 34 of the catch 36 is symmetrically thicker so that the catch 30 is aligned with the opening 11 and the thicker inner portion 34 limits outward movement of the catch 30 through the opening 11.

An elongated coil spring 35 is mounted beneath the control member 22. The bottom of the coil spring 35 bears against the bottom wall 52 of the frame 10. The spring 35 concentrically surrounds the lower circular por-' tion 36 of a post 37, the upper end 38 of which is enlarged and square in contour. The upper end of the spring 35 bears against the bottom of the upper end 38 of the post 37. The upper end 38 has a semi-circular groove 3? which extends transversely thereacross, with the urrounding walls being directed angularly away from the opposite sides of the groove 39. The groove 39 is dimensioned to receive and hold the pin 27 of the control member 22. The post 37 is not attached to the frame it) in any way. It is held in position by tension from the coil spring 35, which urges it into engagement with the pin 27 A flat cover plate 46 is mounted over the lower part of the open side of the frame iii. The plate 40 has a central circular opening which fits around an annular groove 4-1 which concentrically surrounds the outer end of the projection 28 of the control member 22. The back of the plate 44 carries at the upper end thereof a cam 42 which has an upper curved cam surface. When the plate 49 is secured to the frame it the rounded lower end of the flange 33 of the catch 30 engages and rides upon the upper surface of the cam 42.

The upper end of the front of the frame 10 is pro vided with a vertically directed wall 43 which is spaced inwardly from the front of the frame 10 and which ex tends around the bottom and both sides of the inner end of the opening 11.

The side plate 15 is provided with a rotatable thumb turn 45. A turn control 46 having an open square cross section is connected to the thumb turn 45. The turn control 46 fits within the square opening 2% in the projection 23 of the control member 22. The other side plate 14 may be plain, as shown, or it may carry a thumb turn or emergency release to rotate a second turn control similar to the turn control 46 but of smaller diameter so that it would fit within the open end of the turn control 46.

FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the essential parts of my lock in the positions which they assume when the lock is in unlocked position. The coil spring 35 and post 37 exert pressure against the pin 27 to urge the control member 22 in a clockwise direction, holding the catch 39 entirely Within the frame 19, with the back of the catch 3% being held against the back wall 559 of the frame it The flange 33 is disposed at the rear of the cam 42.

The thumb turn 45 is rotated to move the lock to locked position. Rotation of the thumb turn 45 rotates the turn control 46, which engages the walls of the square opening 29 in the control member 22 to urge the control member 22 in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement is resisted by the coil spring 35, since it tends to move the pin 27 closer to the bottom wall 52 and thus further compress the coil spring 35. As the control member 22 is rotated, the catch 3% is moved forwardly and the flange 33 moves forwardly along the cam When the control member 22 has been rotated a sufficient distance to move the post 37 and coil spring 35 past a vertical position, the coil spring 35 then ceases to resist movement of the control member 22. Instead, it exerts pressure against the pin 27 urging it away from the bottom wall 52, causing the control member 22 to snap into the position shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

As the control member 22 moves to locked position, the hook 32 of the catch 31 is first moved outwardly through the opening ll. When the flange 33 reaches the forward end of the cam 42, its lower end strikes the vertical wall 4-3 and acts as a fulcrum to pivot the catch 39 and move the hook 32 downwardly. This movement continues until the flange 33 is in a directly vertical position fiat against the wall 43. The flange 33 is then disposed between the wall 43 and the cam as, as shown in full lines in FIG. 7 of the drawings. It will thus be seen that the hook 32. is moved downwardly to be disposed within the strike opening 18, behind the strike plate 19. The book 32 will catch against the strike plate 1 9 to prevent the door from being opened while the lock is in locked position.

When the lock is to be released, the opposite movements take place. Rotation of the thumb turn 45 in the opposite direction rotates the thumb control 46 to rotate the control member 22 in a clockwise direction. This movement is again at first resisted by the coil spring 35, since it tends to compress the spring 35 further by movement of the pin 27 toward the bottom wall 52 of the frame It As the control member 22 rotates, the flange 33 can not move rearwardly because of the cam 42. The catch 30 is accordingly pivoted to move the hook 32 upwardly until the flange 33 engages the top of the cam 42. The hook 32 has then been moved out from 'behind the strike plate 19. The catch 30 is then disposed in the position shown in phantom lines in PEG. 7 of the drawings. Upon further rotation of the control member 22, the catch 39 is then withdrawn through the opening ll to its former position within the frame it Upward movement of the hook carrying end of the catch 30 during locking and unlocking is limited by the top wall 51 of the frame it Forward movement of the catch 30 is limited by engagement of the thicker inner portion 3 of the catch 38 against the-wall 43 of the frame 10;

When the post 37 and coil spring 35 move past the vertical position, the spring 35 begins to assist the rotation of the control member 22, providing a snap action move- 4 ment of the parts to their fully retracted or unlocked position.

I claim:

1. in a sliding door lock, a frame having a front wali and a bottom wall, said front wall having an opening; therein, a control member mounted for rotation within said frame, the upper end of said control member carrying a transversely directed pin, a catch having its inner end pivotally mounted on said pin, the lower end of said control member carrying a second transversely directed pin, the outer end of said catch having a right angular hook, a flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said catch, said frame having a vertically directed inner wall spaced inwardly from said front wall adjacent said opening, only the outer portion of said catch including said hook being dimensioned for movement through said opening, an elongated coil spring mounted within said frame beneath said control member, the bottom of said coil spring bearing against said bottom wall, said spring surrounding tie lower portion of a post, the upper end of said coil spring bearing against the upper end of said post, the upper end of said post being enlarged and hav ing a groove, said groove holding said second pin, a cant disposed beneath said catch, the lower end of said flange riding upon said cam, to guide said hook toward said open ing, the outer end of said cam being spaced inwardly from said inner wall, the midportion of said control member having a square opening, a manually operable turn control fitting within said opening for rotating said control mem ber, said coil spring and post being angled slightly outwardly to exert pressure against said second pin to urge said control member in a direction to normally hold said catch within said frame, said control member upon rotation thereof moving said hook outwardly through said opening, the rotation of said control member moving said second pin to pivot said post and spring to an inwardly angled position in which said spring resists the rotation of said control member in the opposite direction, the lower end of said flange after passing the outer end of said cam engaging said inner wall to pivot said catch and move said hook downwardly after said hook has passed through said opening.

2. In a sliding door lock, a frame having a front wall, said front wall having an opening therein, a control mem ber mounted for rotation within said frame, a catch havin its inner end pivotally connected to the upper end of said control member, the lower end of said control member carrying a transversely directed pin, the outer end of said catch having a hook, a flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said catch, said frame having a vertically directed inner wall spaced inwardly from said front wall adjacent said opening, only the outer portion of said catch including said hook being movable through said opening, a coil spring mounted within said frame beneath said control member, the upper end of said coil spring bearing against the upper end of a post, the upper end of said post having a groove, said groove holding said pin, a cam disposed beneath said catch, the lower end of said flange riding upon said cam to guide said hook toward said opening, the outer end of said cam being spaced inwardly from said inner wall, means for rotating; said control member, said coil spring and post being angled slightly outwardly to exert pressure against said. pin to urge said control member in a direction to norm-ally hold said catch within said frame, said control member upon rotation thereof moving said hook outwardly through said opening, the rotation of said control-member moving said pin to pivot said post and spring to an inwardly angled position in which said spring resists the rotation said control member in the opposite direction, the lower end of said flange after passing the outer end of said cam engaging said inner wall to pivot said catch and move said hook downwardly after said hook has passed through said opening.

3. In a sliding door lock, a frame having a front wall.

and a bottom wall, said front wall having a opening therein, a control member mounted for rotation within said frame, the upper end of said control member carrying a transversely directed pin, a catch having its inner end pivotally mounted on said pin, the outer end of said catch having a right angular hook, a flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said catch, said frame having a vertically directed inner Wall spaced inwardly from said front Wall adjacent said opening, the outer portion of said catch including said hook being dimensioned for movement through said opening, a cam disposed beneath said catch, the lower end of said flange riding upon said cam to guide said hook toward said opening, the outer end of said cam being spaced inwardly from said inner wall, a manually operable turn control for rotating said control member, said control member upon rotation thereof moving said hook outwardly through said opening, the lower end of said flange after passing the outer end of said cam engaging said inner wall to pivot said catch and move said hook downwardly after said hook has passed through said opening.

4. In a sliding door lock, a frame having a front wall, said front wall having an opening therein, a control member mounted for rotation within said frame, a catch having its inner end pivotally connected to said control member, the outer end of said catch having a hook, a flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said catch, said frame having an inner wall spaced inwardly from said front wall adjacent to said opening, the outer portion of said catch including said hook being dimensioned for movement through said opening, a cam disposed beneath said catch, the lower end of said flange riding upon said cam to guide said hook toward said opening, means for rotating said control member, said control member upon rotation thereof moving said hook outwardly through said opening, the lower end of said flange engaging said inner wall to pivot said catch and move said hook downwardly after said hook has passed through said opening.

5. The structure described in claim 4, said inner wall extending across the bottom of said opening, and being spaced from the outer end of said cam a distance greater than the thickness of said flange, said flange after being pivoted by said inner wall moving downwardly between said inner wall and the outer end of said cam.

6. The structure described in claim 5, said cam being elongated and having a slightly convex upper surface, said flange having a rounded lower end which engages said upper surface of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,580,666 Hansen Apr. 13, 1926 2,736,185 Collar Feb. 28, 1956 2,926,037 Granzow Feb. 23, 1960 2,928,689 Mineah Mar. 15, 1960 

4. IN A SLIDING DOOR LOCK, A FRAME HAVING A FRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A CONTROL MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID FRAME, A CATCH HAVING ITS INNER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL MEMBER, THE OUTER END OF SAID CATCH HAVING A HOOK, A FLANGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE INNER END OF SAID CATCH, SAID FRAME HAVING AN INNER WALL SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT WALL ADJACENT TO SAID OPENING, THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID CATCH INCLUDING SAID HOOK BEING DIMENSIONED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID OPENING, A CAM DISPOSED BENEATH SAID CATCH, THE LOWER END OF SAID FLANGE RIDING UPON SAID CAM TO GUIDE SAID HOOK TOWARD SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CONTROL MEMBER, SAID CONTROL MEMBER UPON ROTATION THEREOF MOVING SAID HOOK OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING, THE LOWER END OF SAID FLANGE ENGAGING SAID INNER WALL TO PIVOT SAID CATCH AND MOVE SAID HOOK DOWNWARDLY AFTER SAID HOOK HAS PASSED THROUGH SAID OPENING. 